Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll be fully aware of the situation surrounding Chelsea Football Club and, more specifically, the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich. With reports emerging surrounding the Russian oligarch’s links to Vladimir Putin and the subsequent sanctions which are ultimately leading to the sale of the club, Chelsea are looking to embark on a new era with fresh leadership taking over from the club’s most successful ever owner.
For Thomas Tuchel, the new ownership will provide him with a potential opportunity to rebuild his current Chelsea squad in an attempt to challenge for major honours next season. This campaign, the Blues have largely failed to do so, most notably losing in the FA Cup Final to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on penalties, failing in their bid to retain the Champions League after being put to the sword by Real Madrid in the quarters, and unable to keep up with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City domestically in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s evident decline has coincided with issues off the pitch, too. When assessing the football betting tips today, for example, Tuchel’s side are some way off challenging for the big prizes next season, although that could all change with a productive off-season and a well executed plan. But what exactly can Tuchel do to make sure his troops are ready to battle it out for the biggest and best prizes next season, and how can he help them get over the line and reign supreme once again?
Time to offload Romelu Lukaku and invest in a suitable goal-getter
Romelu Lukaku’s record over the last few years puts him in the same company as some of the game’s best strikers. Sadly, though, Lukaku’s move to Chelsea hasn’t resulted in a continuation of the same type of form that saw the Belgian beast rise up the striker rankings while at Inter. Whether it’s an issue around his mentality or he’s simply struggled to adapt to Chelsea’s style of play, the former Manchester United flop has ultimately failed to adapt to life back in England. For Tuchel and Chelsea, if they’re to close the gap domestically, there’s an evident need for a reliable goal-getter. Lukaku’s return of just 8 goals in the Premier League this season simply isn’t good enough for a side aiming to challenge for the title. According to reports, the Blues are currently looking at Reims striker Hugo Ekitike.
Replace a big character in Antonio Rüdiger
At times, despite the uncertainty around his future, Antonio Rüdiger has been a prominent personality in the Chelsea setup this season. With the Germany international leaving for pastures new at Real Madrid in the summer, Tuchel has a tough task on his hands when it comes to replacing him. A commanding leader who sets the tone, Rudiger has been one of Chelsea’s better players this season and will be a huge loss. Such an infectious character will be hard to replace, although Sevilla’s Jules Koundé appears to be catching the eye once again.
Revitalise the midfield by signing Declan Rice
Although the club has been criticised for hoarding young talents in the past, fans love nothing more than seeing a homegrown talent progress into the first team, with the likes of Reece James proving to be a fan-favourite at the moment. Although he currently plays for London rivals West Ham, Declan Rice is another former Academy youngster who fans of the Blues would surely take to. With the likes of N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho entering the latter stages of their careers, a player on the up in the shape of Declan Rice could give the Blues a new lease of life in a critical area of the pitch. Rice is a Chelsea fan, too.